Saturday, December 7, 2013

Today is an important
day for the Nation… it is 7th
Dec and it is ‘FLAG DAY’

The Armed Forces Flag Day or the Flag Day of India is
a day dedicated towards collection of funds from people of India for the
welfare of the Indian Armed Forces personnel. It has been observed annually in
India on December 7 since 1949. Over the years, it has become a tradition to
commemorate this day as an honour to the soldiers, airmen and sailors of India. The Flag day is mainly observed to serve
three basic purposes

• Rehabilitation of battle casualties

• Welfare of serving personnel and their
families

• Resettlement and welfare of
ex-servicemen and their families.

The Armed Forces Flag
Day commemoration and the collection of funds through distribution of flags. It
is a time for Indians to express its gratitude and appreciation to the current
and veteran military personnel of India and to acknowledge those who died in
service to the country. On the Flag Day all three branches of the Indian armed
forces, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, arrange a
variety of shows, carnivals, dramas and other entertainment programmes to
showcase to the general public the efforts of their personnel to ensure
national security. Throughout the country small flags and car flags in red,
deep blue and light blue colours representing the three Services are distributed
in return for donations.

Immediately after
India achieved independence, a need arose for the government to manage the
welfare of its defence personnel. In UK,
the First World War, which is celebrated
every year as an Armistice Day on 11th of November, was named as Poppy Day
because the souvenirs of poppies were operated to benefit the ex army men as
well as their relatives. But this day was incompatible for freedom of the
country. So, after getting the freedom from British authority, the Indian
Government had decided to pay attention towards the army men and their
relatives. On August 28, 1949, a committee set up under the defence minister
decided to observe a Flag Day annually on December 7.

CM of Tamilnadu Ms J
Jayalalithaa has also appealed to people to contribute liberally. Flag Day
proceedings are used towards the welfare of the families of the personnel, she
said in an official statement. "As
a show of patriotism of Tamil people and their nature of respecting sacrifices,
I kindly appeal to the people of the state to contribute generously towards
Flag Day funds," she said.